Jacobs Aims To Entertain

I’m an out-and-out attacking player, so hopefully I can score a few goals while I am here"

Michael Jacobs

Michael Jacobs is backing himself to lift Wolves fans off their seats as he sets about the task of satisfying his hunger for first-team football.

The 22-year-old winger is in the squad for tomorrow's League game at Notts County as the club embark on a sequence of four matches in 11 days - the last three of them at Molineux.

And, while unable to figure in the FA Cup during his loan spell, he hopes to play a full part in the push for promotion.

“I’ll look to entertain the Wolves fans," he said. "I like to take players on and make things happen.

“That’s the sort of game I try and play. I had the most assists last year at Derby and that’s another thing I try and bring to my game.

"I’m an out-and-out attacking player, so hopefully I can score a few goals while I am here.

“People will see that I have come from a club in a higher League and they will expect me to, not produce wonders, but make a big impact. That’s what I intend to do and I’ve got full confidence in myself that I can come here and do well.

“I haven’t had a run of games this season. Now I need to get going again, get back into that groove and help the team continue to do well. It’s a win-win situation for both parties.

"Derby have the third biggest average crowd in the Championship and got 27,500 last Saturday. They take a lot of fans away as well, so it won’t be much different coming here. It brings a sort of pressure but that’s what comes with being a footballer."

Jacobs is not traditionally used to substantial spells on the sidelines. He racked up the appearances with his first club, Northampton, as well as Derby and hopes to force a way in quickly during a loan spell that runs until early in the New Year.

But he sees fierce competition looming from the likes of Bakary Sako and James Henry.

“I’ve seen Bakary in training and obviously watched him on TV and he is a fantastic player," he added. "You can just see with his attacking quality, the goals he scores and the chances he creates, the talent he is.

"I’ll look to learn from him. He has been a big buy for this club and I’ll look to take points from him. Hopefully I can play off him and learn how he plays, so that might benefit me in the long run.

“In the first year, I played 50 games. In the second, I played 50 games and I made 45 appearances for Derby last year. Since then, I have hit a bit of a stumbling block.

“As much as you want your career to go well, you are always going to have rocky patches. You’re not questioning yourself but you’re always wanting to go and play and the manager’s not really having you.

"So now, I’ve just got to go out and play a bit of football, get that spark back and showcase what I can do.

“I’ve trained here for three days and you just look at some of the players.

“Derby have one of the best young midfielders in the Championship (Will Hughes) and, when you look at the price tags being put on some of the boys there, you can see why.

"There's no reason why some of the boys in the same midfield positions here could not play in the Championship for Derby. It’s equally as strong. And, looking at the strength in depth here, it is probably on a par.

"I couldn’t come earlier in the season to Wolves because of a lot of injuries at Derby. But I can already tell the standard is really good. The young boys coming through look like they are progressing well. It looks a really strong squad.

“Looking at the names on paper you’d definitely expect them to be pushing to get straight back up to the Championship and do well when they get there.

“It’s nice to be part of that and playing with players like this will help me.”

Of the reported long-term interest in him from Kenny Jackett, Michael says he is very grateful - and also offers Wolves fans a few pointers as to his favourite roles.

“It’s nice to know that someone has been watching me for the past few years and you’ve got people who admire you and want to sign you," he said.

“I’ve played a lot on the left in my career. I’ve played 10-15 games in the ‘hole’ - number 10 - and did well and scored goals. I’ve played on the right as well.

“Predominantly, I’d like to play on the left but playing as a ten, or striker or right midfielder wouldn’t bother me at all.”